Gas lighter



Jan. 2, 1940. C, F ARSEN 2,185,204

GAS LIGHTER Filevd Oct. 729, 1937 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES greater.

GAS LIGHTER Charles F. Larsen, Brooklyn, N. Y., assigner to George McCornick, New York, N. Y.

Application October 29, 1937, Serial No. 171,785

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in gas lighters and more particularly to mechanically operated lighters utilizing pyrophoric elements rubbed against frictional surfaces whereby sparks are produced capable of uniting combustible gases.

This invention comprises improvements upon lighters of the type described and claimed in my Patent Number 2,091,208 issued Aug. 24, 1937,

A device according to the present invention is particularly useful in the lighting of Oxy-acetylene, welding torches and the like and accordingly, it is among the features of the device that it is of rugged and substantial construction adapted to withstanding rough handling during the usual conditionsof use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pyrophoric lighter characterized by having few moving parts and being relatively economical to manufacture.

It is also a feature of the device according to the present invention that it is compact in construction and accordingly adapted to being conveniently carried in the pocket of the user.

It is a further feature of the device according to the present invention that means are provided for assuring uniform wearing of the pyrophoric element whereby a pyrophoric surface of relatively large area is presented for use in conjunction with the friction material.

It is also a feature of the device that the adjustable means for providing tension on the pyrophoric element are normally held in substantially locked condition although readily altered when desired.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 2 taken along the line 3 3.

Referring to the drawing, IB is a U-shaped member formed of resilient and flexible material one end of which, generally designated at l l, carries the pyrophoric element and the other end of said U-shape, generally designated at l2, provides supporting means for the frictional surface cooperating with said pyrophoric element. Referring to the portion of the device generally indicated at i I, the pyrophoric element I5 is freely slidable within the sleeve I6 which in turn is mounted on the bracket Il formed in the handle lll by means including the collar I8 and nut I9 engaging with a threaded portion of said sleeve. 5 The upper portion of the sleeve I6 is threaded substantially as indicated at 20 and carries the cap 2l mounted on said thread and having fluted edges generally indicated at 22 adapted to engage with and be held in relativey fixed position by the 10 spring 24 mounted under the collar i8 substantially as shown. The spring 23 positioned within the sleeve I6 and resting upon the pyrophoric element l5 abuts against the upper portion of the cap 2l whereby the tension in the spring can be varied by rotation of the ycap thus causing it to advance or return along the threaded portion of the sleeve. The portion of the handle, generally designated at l2, is bent to form the substantially rectangular shape shown in Fig. 2, having recesses provided in the ends adapted to receive the spindle 25 having knurled knobs 25 and 21 mounted on the ends thereof and carrying the friction element 28. The friction element is freely rotatable upon the spindle journalled in '05 the frame as aforesaid.

In use, the device is held with the fingers circumscribing the arms of the U-shape and pressure being exerted to close the end, the arms move relative to each other thereby passing the 30 pyrophoric element over the frictional surface and causing sparks to be produced. The pyrophoric element is replaced by unscrewing the cap 2|, removing the spring 23 and inserting a new element in the sleeve, thereafter replacing the removed members. New frictional surfaces are presented on the member 28 by rotation of same by means of the knobs 26 and 21.

In the device according to the present invention, the spindle 25 carrying the friction element 28 is disposed at an angle relative to the path of travel of the pyrophoric element, said path being limited by the slot 29 cut in the upper portion of the supporting frame, substantially as shown, whereby the pyrophoric element is uniformly worn down over its entire surface instead of as heretofore being worn down in the center thereof and leaving unused portions on the edges. Experiene indicates that this-is an important difference between the device according to the present invention and devices heretofore known inasmuch as uniform wearing of the useful surface of the pyrophoric element results in larger and more potent sparks during use, as well as effecting economies by utilizing the pyrophoric' element to the fullest extent. It is also a feature of the device according to the present invention that frictional surface at the end of the travel of the pyrophoric element is in a relatively higher plane than is the frictional surface at the beginning of the travel thereby compensating for the variation in the relative position of the pyrophoric element as it moves in the arc described by the end of the handle element. Under these conditions the pyrophoric element is always maintained in contact with the friction element and can be used down to a substantially smaller size than has heretofore been the case inasmuch as there is substantially no variation in the relative position of the pyrophoric element within the sleeve I except as it is worn down, whereas heretofore it has been necessary to replace the element While a substantial portion remained unused because as the element approached the end of its travel, a spring tensioning means would force it out of a securing sleeve.

It is another feature of the device that the spring tensioning means 24 acting against the fluted surface 22 of the cap 2| prevents said cap from turning thereby maintaining the tension adjustment of the pyrophoric element at sulstantially constant value.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not conned to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A gas lighter of the type described comprising a U-shaped handle member presenting two relatively movable arms, friction producing means carried on one of said arms comprising a frame structure substantially rectangular in outline formed integral with and near the end of said arm, a rotatable spindle mounted in openings in the ends of said frame, a substantially cylindrical friction element relatively xedly mounted on said spindle and rotatable by means including knurled knobs mounted on the ends of said spindle, the axis of the spindle when so positioned being at an angle relative to the plane of the arms of said handle and relative to a plane perpendicular to the said plane and to the handle arm, means for supporting a pyrophoric element carried on the other of said arms comprising an externally threaded substantially cylindrical member having an opening at the bottom thereof adapted to hold a pyrophoric element whereby the pyrophoric element abuts against the friction producing means, adjustable means for pressing the pyrophoric element against the friction producing surface comprising a cap member having a vertically fluted outer surface mounted on the cylinder and engaging with the threaded portion thereof, a spring positioned Within the cylinder and abutting the end of the pyrophoric element and the cap, whereby the pressure of the spring against the pyrophorio element can be varied by rotative movement of the cap.

2. A gas lighter of the type described comprising a U-shaped handle member presenting two relatively movable arms, friction producing means carried on one of said arms comprising a frame structure substantially rectangular in outline formed integral with and near the end of said arm, a rotatable spindle mounted in openings in the ends of said frame, a substantially cylindrical friction element relatively ixedly mounted on said spindle and rotatable by means including knurled knobs mounted on the ends of said spindle, the axis of the spindle when so positioned being' at an angle relative to the plane of the arms of said U-shaped handle and relative to a plane perpendicular to the said plane and to the handle arm, said frame having a slot formed in the top thereof positioned in alignment with the plane of the rectangular frame, means for supporting a pyrophoric element carried on the other of said arms comprising an externally threaded substantially cylindrical member having an opening at the bottom thereof adapted to hold a pyrophoric element whereby the pyrophoric element abuts against the friction producing means, adjustable means for pressing the pyrophoric element against the friction producing surface comprising a cap member having a vertically fluted outer surface mounted on the cylinder and engaging with the threaded portion thereof, a spring positioned within the cylinder and abutting the end of the pyrophoric element and the cap, whereby the pressure of the spring against the pyrophoric element can be varied by rotative movement of the cap, and means for counteracting the tendency of the cap to rotate comprising a spring mounted on the cylindrical member engageable With the vertical fiuting in said cap.

3. A hand operated gas lighter of the type described comprising a U-shaped handle member integrally formed of resilient material and presenting two substantially parallel straight arms being relatively movable, friction producing means carried on one of said arms comprising a frame structure substantially rectangular in outline formed integral with and near the end of said arm, a rotatable spindle mounted in openings in the ends of said frame, a cylindrical friction element substantially fixedly mounted on said spindle and rotatable by means including knurled knobs mounted on the ends of said spindle, the axis of the spindle when so positioned being at an angle relative to the plane of the U-shape and relative to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the U-shape and the plane of the handle arm, said frame having a slot formed in the top thereof positioned at a slight angle relative to the axis of said friction element, means for supporting a pyrophoric lelement carried on the other of said arms comprising an externally threaded substantially cylindrical member having an opening at the bottom thereof adapted to hold a pyrophoric element, means comprising threaded members engaging with the vthreaded portion of said cylinder for mounting same on a portion of the handle arm whereby the end of the cylinder is positioned in the slot in the top of the frame aforesaid and the pyrophoric element abuts against the cylindrical friction producing surface, adjustable means for pressing the pyrophoric element against the friction producing surface comprising a cap member having a vertically fluted outer surface mounted on the cylinder and engaging with the threaded portion thereof, a spring positioned within the cylinder and abutting the end of the pyrophoric element and the cap, whereby the pressure of vthe spring against the pyrophoric element can be varied by rotative movement of the cap, and means for counteracting the tendency of the cap to rotate comprising a spring mounted on the Cylindrical member engageable with the vertical iuting in said cap.

4. A gas lighter comprising a handle portion having normally essentially parallel relatively movable arms; a substantially cylindrical friction element mounted on one of said arms and extending toward the other of said arms, the axis of said element being obliquely positioned relative both to the plane defined by said arms and to the arm upon which it is carried; a pyrophoric eIement carried on the other of said arms; a projecting formation on one of said arms overlying said friction element and having a slot-formed therein at a slight angle relative to the axis of the friction element for guiding movement of the pyrophoric element and pressing sameagainst said friction element.

CHARLES F. LARSEN. 

